Suspected armed bandits have killed over 20 farmers in Gidan Goga area of Maradun local government area of Zamfara state.
A resident of the area who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent via telephone interview that the bandits attacked the farmers who were busy cultivating their farms on Wednesday and attempted to kidnap some of them.
“The bandits attacked them in an attempt to kidnap some of the farmers but having realised that the farmers began running helter skelter, they began to shoot them one after the other and as I am talking to you now, we have 22 bodies who were brutally killed by the bandits,” he said.
He expressed the fear of another attack on the community as he called on federal and state governments to quickly come to their rescue.
“These dreaded terrorists have promised to launch another horrific attacks on our community and we are calling on all authorities concerned to come to our aides as quickly as possible before the thing become out of hand,” he added.
When contacted, the state police command public relations officer, ASP Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the incident.
He however confirmed nine people killed, five injured and currently receiving medical attention.
“As I am talking to you now, nine people were killed, five sustained gunshots, not twenty. Already, the combined anti terrorists team has been deployed as normalcy has returned to the area,” he added.